Army of Björk in Brooklyn

by Adrienne Wilson on

Just as I start to believe I am a die-hard Björk fan some quirky costume party comes along knocking my theory out-of-whack. For instance, on Wednesday, January 31 the Stain bar on Grand Street in Brooklyn is having an Army of Björk costume party where fans or anyone game to dressing up like the eclectic Icelandic artist can do so and be accepted with open arms. In addition to frosty weather they’ll be offering warm wine (glogg) and enough people dressed up as swans and so forth to gawk and watch all night long.

For all the real fanatics out there planning on attending, please do share a photo after the event.

via Gridskipper

Photo of the Day (1/13/07)

by Adrienne Wilson on


For my Saturday evening photo of the day selection, I chose this one from StrudelMonkey. Taken in Seville, Spain last December he notes that flamenco is more than a folk music. “It embodies a complex musical and cultural tradition.” From the way the woman is moving, one can almost feel her thoughts and emotions seeping from her soles from what I imagine to be sweet sounds flowing from the Spanish guitar being played.

World Sound: More Desi Boy Bands

by Adrienne Wilson on

If you were to give me a pop quiz right now on Desi pop culture I’d flunk horribly. I’d like to think my crooning Asha Bhosle’s version of Ina, Mina, Dika would score me some points in the Desi community, but the song is centuries old and the world is need of a fresh new sound from young Desi boy heart-throbs. According to my favorite and really the only Desi culture blog I read, Sepia Mutiny, the planet could use a few more boy bands. Desi boy bands. My initial thoughts were quite opposite and not so much the Desi part, but the boy band part. However, I decided to read further and listen.

JoSH is a Montreal based Desi duo. The one they say resembles Lenny Kravitz (Q) is kind of cute to me and the other (Rup) rocks the turban while delivering the vocals that make the hearts of women melt. Okay, not so much melt, but you know the ladies are feeling it and shaking their tail-feathers, swinging their hair all wild and what have you and so it seems that the world needs more of this Desi boy band business, right? If you’re not familiar with JoSH (long O like Joe, not Joshua) you’ll want to see the videos they’ve included in the blog. The first one sold me, but the second one almost lost me. I’m a sucker for world music though so I’d probably pick it up or download a few tracks.

Seriously, if you’re into tuning your global ear to new things give JoSH a try. They’ll be opening for Nelly Furtado in Bombay on New Year’s Eve if you happen to be around India end of year.

Pink Floyd Fans in Iran

by Adrienne Wilson on

These days I feel as if I’m obsessing over any and every travel tale coming out of Iran. Until I get there on my own, I’ll envy everyone who goes and comes back to share their experiences with me. I want to see it for my own, walk it on my own, breathe it on my own and hear Pink Floyd fans in Isfahan recite lyrics on my own…. Sigh.

In the latest issue of Perceptive Travel, Roy MacLean recounts one of his stops during his retracing of the Asia Overland “hippie trail” that was popular with Westerners in the 60’s & 70’s. Roy talks about times when English girls could hitchhike alone across Iran and when free-spirited teens from Berlin and Boston were both welcomed on Baghdad. The times have changed, but Pink Floyd obviously still remains. As the author tries to find the moment of ‘rare absolute peace’ as described by travel writer Robert Byron he is distracted by young Iranian Pink Floyd fans. They go on and on reciting lyrics from Dark Side of the Moon and question their new Western friend on some of the albums tracks. Although Roy makes his own suggestion, no one sounds very sure and just as soon as the young men had come they were off again.

Oh, to have been Roy on this day or even a fly on the wall, or maybe when I go I’ll run into some Bob Marley fans. I’d love to sit and chat about the Marley man in Iran.

Jazz in Nawlins for the Katrina Anniversary

by Adrienne Wilson on

Jazz Times Magazine has an article on some of the Katrina anniversary events taking place today and tomorrow. Should tickets still be available for the event tomorrow evening it looks as though trumpeter Wynton Marsalis will be performing live. Having joined forces with Mayor C. Ray Nagin, Marsalis, a United Nations Messenger of Peace organized the three day event and concert aims to build and promote a stronger and more beautiful New Orleans. You can show your support by either purchasing a ticket to the show or donating separately. I’d go for the music, but I like all that jazz and New Orleans too.